Balanced valve for steam-engines.



No. 771,168. PATENTED SEPT. 27, 1904. J. P. MoDONOUGH. BALANCED VALVE FOR STEAM ENGINES.

APPLIUATION FILED FEB. 7. 1902.

C l l 3) NO MODEL.

l'ndertibr' UNITED STATES Patented September 27, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN P. MODONOUGH, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 771,168, dated September 27, 1904.

Application filed February 7, 1902. Serial No. 93,035.

1'0 alt w/com it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OHN P. IVICDONOUGH, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Balanced Valves for Steam-Engines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to an oscillatory balanced valve for use in the steam-chests of steam-engines, the object of the invention being to provide a valve that will be as near as possible supported and balanced throughout by the steam admitted to the steam-chest that contains the valve, thereby reducing the frictional contact between the valve and its support, rendering the valve more free of action, sothat less power is required to manipulate it, and materially reducing the lubrication required to provide for the freemovement of the valve.

My invention consists in features of novelty hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

Figure I is a view in side elevation of an engine-cylinder equipped with a pair of my valves. Fig. II is an end view of the cylinder shown in Fig. I. Fig. III is a vertical cross-sectional view taken through a steamchest and my valve located therein, the chest and valve being of single port and duct type. Fig. IV is a similar view to Fig. III, in which the steam-chest and valve are of double port and duct type. Fig. V is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line V V, Fig. III. Fig. VI is an end view of the stem end of the valve, the stem being shown in cross-section taken on line VI VI, Fig. I.

1 designates the cylinder of a steam-engine containinga piston 2, carried by a piston-rod 8.

tis a steam-pipe through which steam is conducted to the steam-chest that surmounts the engine-cylinder.

5 designates the steam-chest closed at one end by a head 7 and at the opposite end by a head 8, the latter of which receives the attachment of the steam-pipe 4 and is provided with an orifice 9, through which steam is ad- (No model.)

mitted from said steam-pipe to the interior of the steam-chest. Communication between the steam-chest 5 and the interior of the cylinder 1 is provided for by a single duct 10, that passes through a valve-seat 11, as seen in Fig.

III, or by a pair of ducts 10 that pass through a valve-seat 11, as seen in Fig. IV.

. 12 designates the balanced valve positioned in the steam-chest 5 on the valve-seat 11 or 11 the said valve being provided with either a single port 13, adapted to register with the duct 10, (see Fig. 111,) or a pair of ports 13, adapted to register with the ducts 10. (See Fig. IV.) The valve 12 is of tubular form and is positioned between centering-bosses 6 projecting from the interior of the steam-chest 5, the valve being preferably provided with semicircular ribs 1 1, that rest against the centering-bosses.

15 is a steam-chamber surrounding the valve 12 within the steam-chest, said chamber being continuous around the sides and across the top of the valve, so as to permit of the pressure of steam occupying said chamber exerting even pressure against the valve to provide for its support and even balance within the steam-chest.

16 is a stem by which the valve 12 is actuated, said stem being connected to the valve by a cross-bar 17, loosely seated in the valve and at the sides of which passage-ways are provided for the steam to gain access to the interior of the valve from the steam-chamber 15. The valve-stem 16 extends through the head 7 of the steam-chest and is provided with a crank 18, by which the valve is actuated.

In the use of the valve the steam enters the valve-chest 5 from the steam-pipe 4 and passes directly into the valve 12 and also into the chamber 15, surrounding the valve, as indicated by the arrows, Fig. V. The steam that enters the steam-chamber 15 passes therefrom into the valve at the opposite end to that at which it enters, thereby providing for the introduction of the steam into both endsof the steam-chamber, and by surrounding the valve as stated an even pressure is exerted against the valve to hold it centrally supported within the steam-chest and evenly balanced. On the oscillation of the valve to bring its port 13 or ports 13 into alinement with the duct 10 or ducts 10 the steam passes from the valve into the engine-cylinder, as is readily apparent.

By reason of the cross-bar 17 being loosely seated in the valve 12 the valve as it wears away or as the valve-seat wears away is ever allowed to fall to its seat, thereby maintaining a continuous close fit between the valve and valve-seat 11 or 11, as will be readily understood. I

I claim as my invention 1. The combination with a steam-chest, of a head 7 closing one end of the chest, a head 8 provided with an orifice 9, a pipe i admitting steam into the chest through the orifice 9, a valve-seat 11 provided with a duct or ducts which lead to a cylinder, a balanced, oscillating. tubular valve 12 in the steam-chest, provided with a port or ports adapted to register with the duct or ducts in the valve-seat 11, bosses 6 projecting from the interior of the steam-chest, centering the valve 12, and semicircular ribs 14:, on the valve 12, which rest against the centering-bosses, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a steam-chest, of a head 7 closing one end of the chest, ahead 8 provided with an orifice 9, a. pipe 4: admitting steam into the chest through the orifice 9, a valve-seat 11 provided with a duct or ducts which lead to a cylinder, a balanced, oscillating, tubular valve 12 in the steamchest, provided with a port or ports adapted to register with the duct or ducts in the valveseat 11, bosses 6 projecting from the interior of the steam-chest, centering the valve 12, semicircular ribs 1 1, on the valve 12, which rest against the centering-bosses, a cross-bar l7 loosely seated in the valve 12, a stem 16 working in the head 7 of the steam-chest, and a crank 18 connected to the stem 16, by which the valve is operated, substantially as described.

JOHN P. MODONOUGH. In presence of- W. H. MUMFoRD, E. S. KNIGHT. 

